末后的艰难

你应当知道这一点:在末后的日子里,将有艰难的时候来到; 因为人们将会爱自己、爱钱财,又自夸、又骄傲,亵渎神、悖逆父母、忘恩负义、毫不圣洁、 没有亲情、不肯和解、恶意控告、不能自制、残忍凶暴、不爱良善、 背叛出卖、任意妄为、自以为是,爱享乐过于爱神, 有敬神的外表,却否定敬神的实质[a];这样的人你要避开。

他们当中有些人溜进别人家里,虏获无知的妇女。这些妇女被罪孽压制,被各种欲望牵引, 虽然一直学习,却始终不能达到到真理的知识当中。 扬尼扬布列怎样抵挡摩西,这些人也照样抵挡真理;他们理性败坏,在信仰上经不起考验。 然而,他们不能再进一步了,因为他们的无知会在众人面前显露出来,就像那两个人一样。

圣经都是神所启示的

10 至于你,你跟从了我的教导、品行、心意、信仰、宽容、爱心、忍耐, 11 以及我在安提阿以哥念路司得所遭受的逼迫和苦难——我忍受了何等的逼迫啊!可是主救我脱离了这一切。 12 其实,所有想要在基督耶稣里过敬神生活的,也都会受到逼迫; 13 而恶人和迷惑人的会越来越坏,他们迷惑人,自己也被迷惑。 14 至于你,你当持守所学到、所确信的,因为你知道是从哪些人学的; 15 并且你从年幼就知道了圣经,这圣经能使你有智慧,藉着在基督耶稣里的信仰,以至于救恩。 16 圣经都是神所默示的,对于教导、责备、规正、在义中的训练都是有益处的, 17 要使属神的人完备,为一切美善的工作,装备齐全。

Footnotes

  1. 提摩太后书 3:5 实质——原文直译“能力”。

末世的情形

你要知道,末世必有艰难的日子, 因为那时的人都自私自利、贪爱钱财、狂妄自夸、骄傲自负、说毁谤话、违背父母、忘恩负义、心不圣洁、 冷漠无情、不愿和解、好说谗言、毫无节制、蛮横凶暴、不爱良善、 出卖朋友、任意妄为、自高自大、沉溺享乐、不爱上帝, 虚有敬虔的外表,却无敬虔的实质。你要避开这样的人。

这些人溜进别人家里,哄骗那些意志薄弱的妇女。那些妇女心中充满罪恶,受各种邪情私欲的驱使, 虽然常常学习,却不能明白真理。 现在这些人敌对真理,就像从前雅尼和佯庇反对摩西一样,他们的心思坏透了,他们的信仰是虚假的。 不过,他们猖狂不了多久,因为他们的愚昧行径必暴露在众人面前,就像雅尼和佯庇的下场一样。

圣经的益处

10 但你熟知我的教导、言行、志向、信心、忍耐、爱心、毅力, 11 也知道我在安提阿、以哥念、路司得遭遇了何等的迫害和苦难。但主从这一切患难中救了我。 12 其实凡立志在基督耶稣里过敬虔生活的人都会受到迫害。 13 而恶人和骗子会变本加厉地迷惑人,也被人迷惑。

14 但你要把自己所学的、所笃信的记在心里,因为你知道是跟谁学的, 15 并且你从小就熟悉圣经。圣经能给你智慧,使你借着信基督耶稣得到拯救。 16 圣经全部是上帝启示的,有益于教导、督责、使人归正、培养人行义, 17 使属上帝的人得到充分的装备,去行各种善事。

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.